The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-23
TURMOIL IN TEXAS.
JUDGE KIRK 9oS TIE STAND. .
He Refutss Some OF tho Charges Dtnde
Against Himself and tho Democrats OF
Washington County Lame Cnse for
Ills Sldo-Tho Color Question.

ngnlnht Himself and tho Democrats OF
Washington County -Lnms CnSo for
] Ills Sldo-Tho Color Question.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Feb. 2e.-Judg,
Lafayette Kirk, County Judge Of Wash
iagton county, Texas, was examined By
the Texas Committee, to-day.
Judge Kirk has acted since the investi
CATION began, az one Of tho counsel for tht
Democratic side, and tho course OF previ
ous testimony has seemed to put him In
the position Of chief defendant in tht
case. It Is he who is charged with having
visited Fieweliyn precinct, where the
votea were being counted, about hali an
hour before the raiders entered, on which
occasion Dowees Bolton was killed; and
It was he who, in tho indignation meeting
at Brenham, introduced the resolution re,
quiring certain Republicans to ceaae Ger.
tain limo Of conduct OF leave the county
He was examined by Senator Spoonsr and
the colloquies were at times very spirited
| Judge Kirk, in reply 10 inquiries, said
ho presided, as 1t was his official duty to
! do, over the canvass OF the vote. Tho Sn.
premo Court Of the State had decided
some months previously that the diamond.
shaped tickots (many Of which were thrown
out In Washington county at the last elec.
tion), were valid, and copies Of the dscis.
ions Of the court were furnished him. As
a matter OF fact, however, no occasion had
arisen within his Jurisdiction involving
the question in point, as he had never
read the decision OF the Supreme Court.
.l%F THAT c1TIzESs' MEETING. 5iy X,
In respect to tho citizens' meeting q!
Bronham, witneus described his action.
He was called on several tines to speak,
and did speak, declaring in substance TINT
Il certain men, naming Hsckworth, Moore,
Glider, Potter, Lock and Schuteze, did
not cease their course OF action, com.
mittes should be formed to visit them and
request them to leave the county. Their
course had been designed to arouse tbs
passions and prejudices Of the colored peo.
pie againgt the whites. Witness had been
informed that Potter had declared himself
in favor OF arming the negroes to shoot
white men at the ballot box. Potter had
since disavowed this, but witness did not
know 1t at the time. He only knew none
had been killed. The others were of.
fensive in their speeches, or rather not 40
much in their speeches as in the fact that
they we're In the habit of applaudiup what
the negroes said in their own epeecbes.
Descending to particulars in reply to ques.
tions witness called the case OF coored
man who said to: his fellows, "You can't
cat with the whites, or sleep with them.
Why do you want to vote with them 2"
This had been laughed at, and applauded
to tho echo by some Of the white Repub.
licans named. Nts - I,
Witness had been lied about ut three
meetings, and was often denied the
privilege OF meeting the false charges on
the spot. The meetings we're called by
negroes, but witness thought they had no
right, to make false statements about him
and deny him the right to be heard in re-
ply. At one meeting he told the white
RepublicanB that he was determined to
be heard il he remained there week. As
consequence the leaders took the band
and marched to another meeting plsce,
while Kirk addressed those who remained
to listen. -, - - Il.-7 4
| THE PEOPLES TICKET. 5% a
The peoples ticket was formed because
since the days Of reconstruction the taxes
had been excessive aud the defa!cations of
Republican officials lsrge. The white
leaders attempted to intimidate the negroes
into voting the Republican ticket, and
brought social influences to- bear upon
those who wanted to support the peoples'
ticket. No grand jury had been in session
laince the hanging Of the negroes, and none
would be till March. ., M. : il :;
y. P. Hackworth, brother Of, the princi.
|pal memorialist, and the Republican
lustlc5 OF the peace who held the inquest
over: the dead bodies OF the negroes,
had full power to investigate their hang.
ing aud as much right to eumnion wit
nesses and inquire into tho case as the
county judge or grand jury. There was a
general belief among the white people that
tho negroes had been advised to
60 armed to the polls, apd that Ed
Lock and Glider had given them this
advice. AS soon as known that Bolton
was Allied, these tEo men disappeared
and could not be found. Therewas pro-
cess out Tor them. Excitement prevailed
on account Of reports that there would be
negro uprisinga and Instructions, and
while many did not believe the reports,
they became spprehcnsive after the kill.
Ing OF Bolton. In consequence OF these re-.
ports the Sheriff with posse went from
brenham to the scene Of disturbance.
/ - NO uFRlsISGs FOUND. i1{,t3IL
| "And you found there was nothing
whatever in the report" interjected Mr..
Spooner.
III believe he found there vas no up.
rising" replied the witnees.
| Coming down to the matter Of threats
sent to various parties, witness teelified to
receiving such letter aud to being shown
others. Wintess received the following
address to himself: "You are hereby
notified that you are to be shot on the
first favorable opportunity presented.
You are the instigator Of all the trouble in
the county. For die you shall before
many suns rise and set. Ii it 10 not done
BY one way it can by another. This is no
bluff but facts. Others will surely follow
you to your fate." s-37l
i Sigued ~ {, -, JUSTICE.
Bob Sloan. a negro supporter Of witness,
received the following: ~ 5f,Is.i,; ~,
DEAR slR:-We have got two of the
Democratic chickens, and you and Aleie
hunt ia our. next choice. We expect to
Kill Democratic negroes until we get two
fol every ono they have killed. la,s5
| (signed) 5fStS fsStS ~ s??l537s DEAD, ~
l. MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS z s4sf.l
Hold Lovefense Which Prominent Pooplc